Hearth Assoc. Throws Support Behind Self Regulating AB 720.

News Editors/Assignment Desks/Environment Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2003

California Assembly Bill 720 should move out of the Natural Resources Committee toward passage by the full assembly because it encourages responsible environmental behavior by homeowners. That is the urging from the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association. Heralding the bill as an historical event in environmental relations between regulators and an industry, hearth association leaders feel strongly that AB 720 will significantly reduce woodsmoke particulate emissions in the state.

AB 720, sponsored by Assemblyperson Barbara Mathews, is designed to promote responsible woodburning and includes EPA certified clean burning wood and pellet appliances already chosen by regional air districts and included in local regulations now in place in California. In fact, over the last several years, the HPBA, representing manufacturers, retailers, and service professionals in the hearth industry, has worked closely with many air districts to raise public awareness for responsible woodburning. The success of those programs has inspired much of the framework for the new bill.

HPBA wants the components of AB 720 to serve as a standard of regulation for the many local jurisdictions that have not yet addressed issues of woodburning stoves and fireplaces. Promoting environmental regulations affecting its own industry, the HPBA aims to achieve consistency throughout the state, which will reduce and eliminate local government costs for research and implementation.

"Make no mistake," says Jay Hanson, HPBA board member long involved in this state's clean air efforts, "we in the hearth industry are very concerned about the health of our friends and families here in California. That's why the industry has, for some years now, developed and offered products that are clean burning. AB 720 will create an incentive for consumers to do their part for clean air: Act responsibly to limit wood smoke from existing fireplaces and upgrade their older wood stoves and fireplaces to meet new standards."

In their quest for cleaner air, some cities have banned all woodburning, even in EPA certified wood stoves, pellet stoves, and built-in fireplaces. This is overzealous and unreasonable, according to hearth industry leaders and leaves poor options for those who want to enjoy the comforts of a real fire and those who want to heat their homes with a lower cost fuel.

"Wood is a renewable, local, and affordable energy resource," stresses Hanson. "Regulations should not eliminate products that help solve air quality challenges through technological innovations such as EPA certified wood heaters and other clean burning solutions. California homeowners should have the power to make responsible choices to clean up the air."

The curtailment portion of AB 720 has two phases. The first stage of the two-stage curtailment program creates an incentive for homeowners to upgrade their hearth products voluntarily to new technologies by allowing them to continue to use their clean burning products when air quality levels trigger restrictions. When encouraged to upgrade, homeowners have most frequently selected a gas-burning product for their open fireplace. Homeowners who still want to use real wood can select a new high efficiency, EPA certified, low emission wood fueled appliance or wood pellet stove.

The second stage of curtailment would be put into place rarely and only when extreme air pollution exists. Then all woodburning would be prohibited.

"Without AB 720's two stage curtailment program, there is no incentive for homeowners to do the right thing," Hanson notes. "This industry has moved to improve our products, support standards established by the US EPA and provide some consistency for folks throughout the state. That's why we applaud Assemblyperson Mathews for this very important step in legislating particulate reduction."

Voluntary control methods will always be the most cost effective tools for air districts striving to meet EPA edicts. But given the nature of homeowners apt to procrastinate about becoming part of the clean air solution, AB 720's regulations seem well advised.

The Assembly's Environmental Committee meets April 21 in Sacramento to determine the bill's fate.